Vehicle body front construction



July '18, 1933. J. LEDWINKA VEHICLE BODY FRONT CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 17, 1930 4 Sheets-Shet l July 18, 1933. J LEDwmKA 1,918,410

VEHICLE BODY FRONT CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 17, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSEPH LEDWINKA A TTORNE Y.

July 18, 1933. J wm 1,918,410.

VEHICLE BODY FRONT CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 17, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q I NV EN TOR. JOSEPH LEDw INKA A TTORNE Y.

July 18, 1933. wm' 1,918,410

vEH ICLE BODY FRONT CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 17, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w Key, M m m m m B w 1 m I-I |l 5 2., X Q E FICLH UN TEDS ES Patented July 1933 afo snrn rnnwr uxn, or rHILAnELrnIA; rnnusvnve vra sSIGnOPQfroEDWARn um) MANUFAQT RI 'G MBANY, F

,roRATIonor PENN'sY'Lv N A I PHILADELYHIA; frnnnsyrvnnle, j A v con.

vim 3on2 rmmflcowsmucma 1 Application as Janua fr, iesoyseri'ai no. 421,358.

The invention relates to-vehicle body'front constructions and more particularly to the particularly adapted to a vertically i slidable windshield which is simple in 'constructlonh easy of formation of the several parts enter} ing into theconstruction, easy of assembly,'fl light in weight. and at the sa-meftime very strong and durable. v

To the attainment of this object Inform, the outer paneling around .i the windshield opening in a u'nitary stamping, and associate with this unitarv 'stamping auxiliaryiheader and-post stampings to reinforce the same M strongly. "My invention also contemplates combining the functions oiia numberof ele-Q ments in a single unitary stamping, such tor, example, asithe lower windshield header, 1n-

strument board and lparts of the ventilating system, and by the iparticulari manner in which the various reinforcing rn'embersare interconnected thereby providing 3 great strength and easy access forsecuring the;

parts together by spotfweldingl U i Other and further objects and advantages are attained by; novel improved con-" struction, all of which will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying:

drawings, in which Fig. 1' shows in side elevation a front body unit embodying the invention;

' Fig. 2 shows said unit in a partial front V v i r I a ing are beaded at 1'0",and have then-offset elevation.

Figs.3,"4, 5, 6 and 7 ingly numberedsection lines of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 8' is" a perspective view of a combined lower header, instrument boardand' ventila= tion deflector, according to the invention.

Fig.9 is a sirnilar view of the top header rail stampingand associated. parts. i, i 5 Fig; 10 is aperspective view of the rear lower corner of the cowl, looking at it from theinside.- j i Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the front are detail sectional? views taken respectively on the correspondpo st stamping, looking at frointheiinside.

According to myeinvention the outer. cowl panelingdesignatedby numeral" 10 extends entirely around thewindshield opening and is formed amhe boaom of the windshield openlng witha' curved transverselyaextending rear flangededge: 12 forming with: the body "of, the ,panelanangular. seat; 'Atflthe sides andqtop' of the-windshield opening; it is r formedwith inwardly extending flanges 13 h-avlng reversely bent. edge flanges adj acent' er side ofzthe windshield opening-l- In its uppers-portion it is extended 1 for the planeof thevvindshield, the paneling thus 1. serving to formthemoulding around the out-i wardlygatzl t toform a blunt visor andthenv i v is bent'upwardly-and'back to form'ia forward the windshield may be raised.

"At the sides the c'owl panel ti'cular fo'rthefsecure connection; oflthe cross headers andiother associated parts to form strong attaching means therebetween and portion'ofitheroof at 15, The rearfedgeofil this portion is rabbeted at 16 by a doublerabw b.et toflre ceive 1the front edge of aroofpaneh Thisirabbeted' edge is'located some-distance] v -,.rearwardly otthe flange 13 of the outer panel. and forms'with said :flange and theroof .7 1

' portion 155a generally downwardly presenting channel; providing aspace within which 9 10 is reini forcedat its rear edges by the inwardlyfacr' 1 inggenerally or channel section pos'ts 17 which exten'd'vfrom thefbottom' ofthe cowl-,toethe The-form of welding; Therear edges of the cowl paneledges 11" welded to. the outside faces of the posts through substantially the lengtlr'bf the posts to securely unite them to eling, see Figs; 5, 6 a 3 the cowl pan-J the rear edge of the cowltpanel' 'is reinforced Y 95 by a transversely extendingstamping18,-the

; upper portion of which's of generally downwardly presenting channel form, having" a. x

deep rear,wall 19,' aibottom' 20 andia shajl low front"wall. -21. The-front wall is pm-w vided with a forwardly extending flange: 22"

I so that they'can rbe readilyiattached by; spiot,

' reinforced a downwardly extending edge flange 23. The angular rearedge formed'by the body and rear edge flange 12 of the ing is'welded tothe po's'ts 17 as -show'n in Fig. .7, Below the flange 1'9 and inwardly of the attaching flanges 25, the stamping is eX- tended forward-lyandf downwardly to form instrument board and headerfstamping' 18 is "flanged forwardly Vat-28 to further'r'eincowl panel is seated inthe angle formed by the forward wall 21 and the flange -22 of sta1nping 18 and is securedthereto byspot welding 'asshown in Fig, The weather: strip retainer channel 24:;is seated in the angle formed by the fian g e 120i the 'panel" and spot welded thereto.

'At the sides therear Wall of the channel section top part of the header stamping 18 is slightly; ofi'set rearwardly andextended downwardly to form wide attaching flanges 25, Fig. 8, through which the header stampthe rearwardly"; inclinedinstrument board portion 26, this inclined portion connecting with theportion 19and flanges 2-5 by curved] portions 27. At its lower edge thecoinbined force the same,- and thisforward'lyextendthe post towhich the flange'25is connected) 1 1 Becauselof its-shape, the combined header and windshield stamping 18 is inherently a very strong-and rigid; and through its secure connectionsjust described-to the front posts ,17 and to the cowl panel 10, it very arongly interbraces these parts":

According to my inventioml make use of this-stamping in the ventilatingTof. the line terior of thecar, forby' providi'ngflspaced ventilator openings 31 in the upper exposed portion of the stampingand attaching a deflector panel 32; extending above the header andhaving its-upper portion curved fen wardly at 33 and bent backatL34 t0 rovide a smooth and reinforced edge, ;to' t e rear wall; 19,the air is deflected, whenthe wind,-

, shield is slightly raised, as indicated bythe i arrows, i Fig. 4,. downwardly through the openings 31 and forwardly over the instru ment board portion 26,toward the bottom of v 'p-er and lower portions the rear wall or the the'body.

posts and cowl panel and "as an instrument board; 1

substantially Z-section portion. This is re in forced and connected to the posts 17 by a The, novel improved 1'85-thus 'performsca triple function, asupart: of the ventilator system as headerconnecting the;

tion.

set inwardly from the panel and islprovided with cut-out portions for lightening purin cross-section as indicated by" reference numeral 37 and the lower sidefand bottom bftliis'cl1"annel section portionpnests with theangle formed by the portion '35 and flange 13-of the outer panel and is firmly secured, thereto by, spot welding yand by I r -clinching;overthe edge of the; flange '13 as poses, 7' At the bottom it-is of channel form 7 shown at 38,Fig. 3. The channel also provides a seat within which maybe secured. the,

angular z metal strip 39,: forming the weather strip securing means. This strip is fshown secured to the rail 37 by "spot "welding it thereto, ands-having the major portior'rthera of seated in the channel 37. The upper edge 1 of the rail 36 isrounded-a-t 36! and forwardly flanged, .atI 37' :to fit over the 35Land is secured-thereto by, spot welding,;'as

shown. Additional ,1 strength and'stilfness is secnre'djby the offsetportions -40,- which Zrounded portion joining the partslilcvand 1 seat against the outer panel'-;port-ionz35vjand i are secured thereto by spot welding: These, oifsets alsoprovide spaces for mounting (the windshield wipers," Thenpper'ends of the posts 17 are secured to. the header rail 36 by angle brackets 41 securedfthrough{one arm 7 by spot welding to aflange'A-Q of the posts a-ndthroug'h another arm tothe rail, see Fig. 5,; The-body. of the angle brackets extend, 7

ing between the parts-which it connects may be1reinforced as shown; by bendingit into ohtuse' angle form at 43' and indenting the metal through v the obtuseangled portion, as indicated'at' l i; a

V Asprevionslystated, posts 217' arelofgenerally channel form, presenting inward-1f 1y, having the 155 see-Fig.11, and the forward shallow side Qwa-ll" 46. I At the topt-he rear all i'sform-ed witha rearwardly vprojecting flange 42 to rear relatively deep side :wal-l which thebracket' 41 connecting theheader "rail stamping 36 is welded? 3 V In its lower. portion the 1 post stamping rearfside walliisg provided with forwardly extending tabs-48 against which the upholstery may be secured. Adjacent Fits uppost is provided :with offset po1ti'onsx49' to receivethehinge'straps.

At the bottom 7 the post is formed I withan inwardly extending tab 5O,*which for1ns a part of the'jo'int between the post and "the" lower rear portion of tlie cowl paneling.

' Atthe bottom the outer 'colwl panel 10 is inner panel stamping 54 is formed with a;

ledge 55 on which the flooring may rest and the edge of the sliding windshield panel.

This angular edge portionis braced to the.

' e and spirit of the appended s formed with aseat along its front edge to tion of said. stamping in rear of the cowl panel seat being formed with ventilator with "an outwardly jextending flange ,56

1 which'overlaps and is welded to the forward sidewall 46 ofthe poststamping. The tab 50 at the lower end of. the post lapsover the ledge and is secured thereto by spot welding. .liurther securement ofthe post and paneling is by an upwardly extending tab 57lat the rear edges of the inner panel 54 which is weldedto the lower forwardly eX- tendingtab 18 of thepost. 1 It willthu's be vided at the bottom of the posts '17 betweenthemand the inner and outer cowl panels. 10 and .54. p v g A frame 58 forthe ventilator opening 59 in the side of the cowl further reinforces the cowl and the rear edge member of this frame is braced to the post 17 a sheet metal bracket 60, spot welded at one en'd'to the frame 58 and at the other end to the post.

At the sides of the windshield opening the: Outer panel 10is turned in at 13 and formed with an angular edge portion'62 facing rearwardly and inwardly and adapted to receive rear wall of the post by angular brackets as 63 spot welded as shown in Fig. 6, to the edge of the panel and tothe post, and bridging the space between them. n

The rearwardly extending edge flange 64:

ofthe roof portion 15 of the outer paneling 1-0 is shown provided with angle brackets 65" rigidly secured thereto bys ot welding, to which the transversely eXten ing windshield regulator and finish panel maybesecured in spaced reation to the body. of the cross header rail stamping 36 to permit the windshield to be raised therebetween.

Vhile I have hereindescribed a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that changes and modifications can be? made without departing from the substance to nest with an outer panel and formed with a rearwardlylpresenting channelsection portion at its lower :edge, and. a weather strip What I claim ig;

1. Ina Vehicle front construction, a unitary pressed metal stamping extendlng from side to side of the body to form a lower windshield headerand formed witlr a generallyv downwardly presenting upper portion receive the rear edge of acowl panel, and

extended downwardly through its rear wall to form anin strument board, the upper poropenings.

2, In avehicle frontconstruction, auni tary pressed metal stamping extending from side to side of, the body and of generally downwardly presenting channel form at the top and provided with anangular seat for the edge of the cowl panel and for re- 1 ceiving the edge of a windshield panel, said to provide 1 attaching means wherebythe ings. i g In a vehicle fIOIltjCOIlStIllCtlOII, sheet metalifront'posts' of generally inwardly pre- 'sentingchannel section, and "a: unitary j in- S' H boardfand windshield headerf stamping extending between said posts and rijgidly connected thereto through vertically "deep fianges along, the edges "of said.

said stamping being forwardly flanged at its another wall offgsaid posts through said flange. 3

stampingbeing} formed ventilator openingsinlits upperijwall, andimeans; for deflecting a current of air-through said opene stamping and the rear side walls of the posts,

4. A vehicle front construction jcompris ing an outer panel stamping arched 'over' to form a hollow section presenting generally ofthe windshield opening at the 'top'of'said windshieldpanel therebetween, y y 5. A top windshield header. comprising. an

,outer. panel portion extending substantially wvertically, an inner reinforcing header rail 6 having main body spaced from said panel but secured thereto alongits upperand low- 'er edges, frontposts, and means wher'ebythe] ends of said railare securedv to the front- ,posts. i 6. A ing a unitary stamping formed along its lowtop windshield header rail compris er edge with awr'earwardly facing channel curing the weather stripping.

ing a unitary stamping flanged at the top securing strip secured in fsaid'channel.

v Atop windshield header railhaving main body offset rearwardly from, its upper and lower edges, and portions of said main body intermediate its upper and lowerqedges offset forwardlyto substantially the planeiof its upper and lower edge portions, the sides of saidstamping being extended rearwardly may be secured to front posts." 7 A section portion for receiving means for sej 7. A top wind hield header rail compris I I 9. A cowl constructlon' comprising outer andinner panel's joined together in their lower edges but spaced apart intheir bodies to form a'hollow structure, a front post of generally inwardly presenting channel secured to the bottom wall of the channelof the edge of the outer panel being downwardly, and having its frontwall ex f 3 tended inwardly substantially totheplane;

ner paneh the; inner panel being further secured to the front and. rear side walls of one edge thereof rabbeted te receive the edge of a door and clir-ectly secured'tethe bottom 7 wall- .of the-pest, and the 'other edge rabk fthe post. e V V betedtovreeeive the edge ofa;virindshieldand v e I 10.-A-cow1 construction comprising a; gen.- vsecuredeto the rear wall of the post through 70 eral ly-inwardlyfa'cing channel sectionposp a. bracket.

member, ,a nd a panel member applied to the; v v JOSEPH ,LEDVVINKA.

' forward and outside of said post, and having y I e V h p {56 v A V V I V v P '17s r- 2's e T45 v no 

